The Baroque Era- Music Appreciation

The Baroque Era lasted from the years _______ to _______.

1600, 1750

What does Baroque mean?

"irregularly shaped"

dramatic singing that tells a story in a play-like sense

opera

libretto
dramatic text that composers set to music in opera

libretto

introductory movement for orchestra that comes before an opera

overture

What type of drama did the inventors of opera think they were reviving?

ancient greek

What country did opera originate from?

Italy

small ensemble that is foundation for melody/melodies, requires 2 instruments, and is only in the Baroque period

basso continuo

musical notation where a number appears below the score (below bass notes)

figured bass

______________ is an Italian composer known as the creator of what is considered the first true European opera.

Claudio Monteverdi

What was the name of Monteverdi's first opera?

L'Orfeo, written in 1607

In L'orfeo, what happens to Euridice?

she gets bit by a snake and dies

Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" is considered _________________________.

the first major opera in history of western music

In L'Orfeo, why does the hero Orpheus (Orfeo) want to go to Hades?

he wants to join Euridice in hell

"touched thing"; meaning an instrumental showpiece

tocatta

"little return"; occurs before and after each strophe

ritornello

musically heightened speech that sings in free-rhythm

recitative

the soloist is accompanied by the basso continuo alone

simple recitative

singing style that has feeling/emotions; all or part of orchestra plays

aria

Born in London, Henry Purcell has been called "the greatest of all __________ composers".

English

Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas is written in what language?

English

Who is the soldier of fortune who will desert Dido to sail on and found Rome?

Aeneas

In the opera Dido and Aeneas, who is the Queen of Carthage?

Dido

Dido's maidservant's name is?

Belinda

a musical figure, motive, melody, harmony, or rhythm that is repeated

ostinato

motive in bass repeated again and again

basso ostinato

What is the English term for "basso ostinato"?

ground bass

Which instrument dominated the sound and was considered the leader of the Baroque orchestra?

harpsichord

Which instrumental family forms the core of the Western Classical Orchestra?

strings (violin family)

How many performers were in a typical Baroque orchestra?

20

style of Jean-Baptiste, one section in duple, other in triple

French Overture

form where voices enter and duplicate one another

canon

form of music written so that the number of players controlled how loud or soft the music was, depending on how many people were playing at any given time

terraced dynamics

genre where one or more soloists play against an orchestra

concerto

orchestra and soloists develop musical material in spirit of competition

solo concerto

putting sound of small group of soloists against full orchestra

concerto grosso

group of instruments that function as soloists in concerto grosso

concertino

"all"; full orchestra

tutti

repeated musical form by orchestra

ritornello form

The first movement of a Baroque Concerto is usually in what form?

ritornello form

Vivaldi was born and raised in what Italian city?

Venice

In Venice, from 1703 to 1740, where did Vivaldi teach and direct music?

the Ospedale della Pietà

Who did Vivaldi direct and teach in Venice?

young women

repetition of a musical motives successfully higher or lower

melodic sequence

using poetic images through music (imagery in music)

program music

Thunder and lighting, bird songs, a babbling brook and festive bagpipes are featured in the program of Vivaldi's Concerto named after the season ____________.

spring

The style of Bach during the Baroque period was mostly ___________, but changed to ___________ towards the end.

monophonic; polyphonic

Bach studied the works of what three composers?

Palestrina, Baklaveli, and Vivaldi

Bach became the most renowned _________ virtuoso in Germany.

organ

polyphonic composition for three or more parts (vocal or instrumental) that alternates passages of subject with free counterparts

fugue

theme; primary musical idea

subject

opening section where each voice presents the subject

exposition

free sections where the subject is not heard in its entirety (often uses sequences to modulate)

episode

a note, usually bass, that is sustained while other parts change around it

pedal point

The fugue opens with a section called __________.

exposition

Bach was thrown in jail for leaving his position in the city of __________

Weimer, Germany

While working for the prince of _____________, Bach turned his attention from organ music for the church to instrumental music for the court.

Cothen

In 1723, Bach assumed the position of cantor of St. Thomas church and choir school in the Germany city of _________.

Leipzig

"sung thing"; multimovement sacred work that lasted 20-30 mins and was the core of Lutheran services

cantata (church cantata)

spiritual melody or religious folk song of the Lutheran Church

chorale

a large scale form in 3 sections (ABA) with the third repeating the first "from the capo or head"

da capo aria

This composer was an entrepreneur who began his career writing operas, became most famous composer in Europe and a treasured national institution in England, his adopted country.

George Handel

Which composition revieced such a warm reception that the king caused it to be repeated three times in one night?

water music

Handel's "Water Music" belongs to a genre called the _____________

dance suite

a set of instrumental pieces drawn from a longer opera, ballet, or similar work

dance suite

Almost all dances of the Baroque period were in what form?

binary (AB)

a large scale genre of sacred music involving an overture, arias, recitatives, and choruses performed with scenery and costumes, with multiple dramatic acts, and was less expensive than operas

Oratorio

What is the most famous oratorio called?

Messiah

Why do people stand when they hear the Hallelujah chorus?

when King George II stood during the performance (because he was so moved by the piece) everyone else in the theater stood as well as to not offend him